David Amess, a member of Parliament (MP) from UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party, was stabbed by a man who walked into his constituency meeting, according to Sky News. The office of the MP confirmed that Amess has been stabbed but did not provide more details. The 69-year-old  is receiving treatment and his condition is currently unclear. 

Police arrested a man following the stabbing. Essex police said that they were called to reports of a stabbing in Leigh-on-Sea at 12:05 BST (4:35 om IST) and recovered a knife from the scene, the BBC reported. Cops said they were not looking at anyone else in connection to the incident. 

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“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the wider public,” the Essex police said. 

Ian Duncan, Amess’ colleague wrote on Twitter: “My thoughts are with David Amess MP and his family at this awful time. Praying for a full recovery following this apalling, shocking news. This angry, violent behaviour cannot be tolerated in politics or any other walk of life…”

Labour Party leader Kleir Starmer tweeted, “Horrific and deeply shocking news. Thinking of David, his family and his staff.”

David Amess, the 69-year-old MP from Southend West, is thought to have been attacked as he met constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church, the BBC reported. 

Amess was elected to Parliament for the first time in 1983 representing Basildon. Later, in 1997 Amess stood for elections in Southend West. 

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For political observers, Amess’ stabbing has echoes of the 2016 murder of Labour MP Jo Cox only days before the Brexit referendum as well as 2010 case when Stephen Timms, another Labour lawmaker, survived a stabbing at this constituency office. 

A Sky report on the attack said that a man walked into the constituency surgery and stabbed the MP a number of times, and that Amess was receiving treatment at the scene. 

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The incident will raise further concerns surrounding the safety of MPs, who routinely hold advice surgeries for anyone who can turn up. Jo Cox was stabbed to death by a far-right terrorist shortly before holding a surgery. 

An MP for 38 years, David Amess is a well-known backbencher who has never held a ministerial or shadow ministerial post.